Lurking

"Oh my god! What?!"

Flinching at the loudness of his senior Off replied, "Shhh quiet down Namtan!".

Giving an apologetic look towards Off and everyone around, Namtan replied in a slight whisper, "Sorry sorry! But how can this happen? I heard that he picks everything up when no one is around!".

Off shrugged before replying, "I don't know he just appeared out of thin air and told me to never go there ever again".

Namtan heaved a heavy sigh, before asking "What are we going to do now? " while detective Off shrugged, "I don't know how... but how did you find this information anyway–", He paused when he heard someone's phone ring, "Off it's your phone" Namtan pointed out.

"Oh, oops," Off said apologetically as he pats down himself before he fished out his phone to respond, "Hey! Silvia, yeah... yeah ... what!? again? How can you forget to pick him up? God alright I'll get him!"Off groaned pinching his nose in frustration once he ended the call.

"She forgot again?" Namtan asked feeling frustrated and sympathetic towards Off,

Off let go of a deep breath before replying, "Yeah... I need to leave Sergeant, I'll see you later !", he immediately got up and started gathering his things to leave.

Nodding Namtan replied, "Alright detective, take care !".

#

"Mama! Can we get the big lollipop?" one of the tiny toddlers begged,

Their mother looked over towards the giant lollipop on display and looked back towards the two toddlers giving their mother the cutest puppy eyes "What? That's too much sugar..."

Seeing the struggling mother the man behind the counter said, "Hey, kiddos how about this?" as he showed the two girls a unicorn cake pop,

"Woahh we want that!!" they shouted mesmerised by the mythical creature.

Smiling the man behind the counter replied "here you go! It's on me ".

Both the girls squealed with happiness giggling while their mother smiled seeing them happy, she looked over to the man to say "Thank you for that, those lollipops would have given them a sugar high"

He smiled and nodded before grabbing a pastry from the display, "Here this is for you," he said handing the lady a pastry.

Confused the lady replied, "what? I didn't ask for that! "

The man smiled back before replying, "I know... but I saw them on news recently. I'm glad they are okay and I can't even imagine what you must have gone through... so all this is on me. Let me know if you guys want anything else"

Shocked the lady replied feeling a little emotional with"Ah that's the sweetest thing thank you... girls come here and thank him for your food"

"Oh no that's not necessary," he said shaking his head,

The twins squealed, "Thank you, sir !" "Thank you !", in unison before they got into their cake pop making the man behind the counter chuckle. The twins along with their mother sat down on one of the corner tables enjoying themselves.

*Tling*

The wind chimes on the entrance rung and the man behind the counter put on his best corporate smile before saying, "Welcome to Rockin' Rolls bakery what can I get started for you". While the man at the door with his son in hand analysed the bakery that his son insisted on going into. The entire place was vibrant and cute and it smelled absolutely delicious.

His son shook his hand off and ran towards the glass display making him shout, "Ooi! Chimon! ".

The man behind the counter walked to the front bending down to the kid's level before asking, "What can I get started for you little guy ?". The small boy gulped his drool back as his eyes widened with joy seeing all the amazing desserts, he said "It all looks delicious" making the man chuckle.

"Aw take your time with that then, " he smiled.

"Sorry about him, " the father said apologetically,

The man looked up towards the father before flashing a smile and replying, "Oh no issues ". The man quickly stood up revealing his name tag,

The man read the name tag out "Gun?".

"Huh ?"

the man smiled awkwardly, before replying "huh? oh ... Your name... I was just reading it out loud eheh"

"Oh, it's actually Gunner. But you can call me Gun" Gunner replied,

The man took a minute to analyse the barista standing in front of him, the man called Gunner, or Gun for short, standing at around 5 foot 8, thin and lean body brown hair with honey highlights he has bangs long enough to cover his entire forehead, a cute face, button nose, high cheekbones, big beautiful brown eyes and porcelain skin, the cafe's uniform that consisted of a brown beret, white shirt and a light brown overalls' accentuated his features and beauty.

While analysing the man blurted, "Cute uniform", and immediately regretted his life choices.

Confused Gun replied, "Thank you?", while the man awkwardly smiled,

"Dad! I want the chocolate mousse! " Chimon exclaimed finally deciding between the mousse and the pastry, "Huh! Oh yeah ..." the father said flustered looking down at his son,

Gun giggled making the father flustered, before asking "Excellent choice kid... I love that too... and what can I get started for you detective ?".

Confused the man mumbled, "Wait what?"

Unable to understand what the man said Gun asked back, "What ?",

"How did you know I'm a detective?" the man asked intrigued and sceptical.

Gun smiled before replying "It's not that big of a town sir.".

Seeing that he was being ignored "dad !" Chimon cried.

Dropping the questioning for the time being, the man ordered "One chocolate mousse please then that'll be all",

Nodding and smiling Gun replied, "Alright. That'll be $$$ would you like to do the payment with cash or card ?".

"Cash," the detective said as he handed over the money,

After punching everything into the register Gun replied, "Alright!", he leaned down to grab one of the chocolate mousses from the display, before saying "There you go sir " and handing over the change and chocolate mousse.

The father-son duo took their things and walked over to the nearest empty seat.

The mother of the twins walked back over to the counter once it was free to say "Uhm excuse me... I don't feel good getting all this for free –"

Gun smiled before cutting her off to say, "Mrs it's alright don't worry about it ".

"What if the owner finds out? it won't be good for you," she replied concerned for Gun's wellbeing.

Gun laughed, and replied, "Ah! Mrs don't worry about it!"

"But..."

"I won't fire myself "Gun smiled cheekily.

The lady replied confused, "What ?" before the realisation struck "Oh... Ahah, that's good then, thank you that was very sweet of you hope you have an amazing business ".

Gun smiled "Thank you Mrs, I hope that too"

Meanwhile, Chimon took his sweet time eating the chocolate dessert while his father's brain refused to let go of the fact that the cute cashier knew his occupation when they had never even met before.

#

Gun locked his bakery at the end of the day before stretching out his body, while a few miles away sat a paranoid detective in his car having a strange feeling about the smaller man.

His eyes glued to the man–

His eyes darted around to find Gun, "Where did he go–" he asked himself as he continued to look around,

*Knock*knock*

Someone knocked on the window of the passenger seat of his car making him look away from the cafe and towards the knocking, seeing the man standing outside his car he felt embarrassed as he rolled down his window.

"Your car sticks out like a sore thumb detective," Gun said with a nonchalant smile on his face,

The detective gave an awkward smile before stuttering, "I was just–",

Cutting the detectives stuttering off Gun replied, "All the shops are closed and there's not a single apartment building nearby. What are you doing here detective? Last I checked patrolling an innocent civilian doesn't seem like a very good thing to do or so I've heard ".

The detective felt embarrassed being caught, but his concerns still stood so he decided to bite down the embarrassment and ask, "Um mister Gunner... How did you know that I was a cop? I'm certain that we've never met before",

"Hah, that's why you're here? And here I was thinking that you might have found me cute. Oh well," Gun replied a bit sarcastically,

Sighing Off replied, "Mr Gunner, please answer the question".

Shaking his head Gun replied, "Get out of the car then I look like a hooker standing like this " instead, before standing up straight waiting for the paranoid detective to come out.

Off agreed and walked out of his car and stood in front of Gun before asking again, "Now tell me".

"Woah you're tall did you grow since I last saw you?", Gun said half-jokingly and half-seriously,

"Mister--"

Gun sighed rolling his eyes before replying with a nonchalant tone, "Firstly please call me Gun, everyone refers to me that way and secondly there was a robbery in that store two months ago. I was a witness I have a very good memory you see. sergeant Namtan took my statement and detective Samul was on the case. As I said I have a pretty good memory. I saw you there any further questions detective"

He felt embarrassed listening to Gun's explanation, "Oh... uhm" he replied.

"Why mister? Uh, wait What's your name again?" Gun asked,

Embarrassed the man quickly replied, "Oh! Right, I forgot. My name is Off Ruiz"

Scoffing Gun replied, "Alright, then detective Off Ruiz. Why were you so curious that I know who you are or what you do to be precise ?".

Shaking his head Off quickly replied, "It's nothing... I apologise for the misunderstanding being a bit inquisitive is an occupational Hazzard".

Humming at the response, Gun replies, "I see, but is it just being inquisitive or suspicious?"

"Have you done anything suspicious ?" replied Off instantly,

Smirking Gun replied, "Not that I'm aware of ".

"Then why question it ?"

Scoffing and crossing his arms in front of him Gun replied, "I wasn't till a cop decided to lurk around keeping an eye on me ".

Feeling embarrassed Off muttered "Uhm...".

"Gun !" Before Off could reply Another voice joined making both the men look towards it.

"Oh, Tay! " Gun exclaimed.

As the 6-foot tall, dark muscular man in his early thirties walked towards the two.

Tay looked between the two before focusing on Gun and saying, "Are you ready to go ?"

Gun replied, "Mm Yeah !", he then turned back towards Off with a soft respectful smile, to say, "Next time if you have a question detective just ask. Lurking around doesn't fit your occupation", before leaving the detective looking down at his feet.

The two walked away leaving Off feeling embarrassed at his behaviour, "Ah fuck! you idiot " Off Mumbled to himself, feeling his neck tense up as he kicked his car tires.